11 Racing Drivers Named FIA Smart Driving Challenge Ambassadors for 2026

The FIA has appointed 11 professional racing drivers from across the motorsport spectrum as ambassadors for the 2026 Smart Driving Challenge, a global initiative rewarding safe and sustainable driving habits. They will lead teams of everyday drivers through the official app, offering exclusive insights and coaching to improve road safety and reduce environmental impact.

Why it matters:

The challenge turns elite racing expertise into a tool for real-world change—helping millions of ordinary drivers adopt smarter, greener habits. With participation from 97 countries last year and an average 9% cut in CO2 or battery usage, it's one of the largest direct mobilizations of motorsport's safety and sustainability message.

The details:

• The ambassador lineup spans multiple FIA World Championships: Yifei Ye (WEC), Edoardo Mortara (Formula E), Yohan Rossel, Taylor Gill, Romet Jürgenson (WRC), Aliyyah Koloc (World Rally-Raid), plus Hana Burton (driver/content creator), Kelvin van der Linde (DTM/GT), Malthe Jakobsen (WEC), Kajetan Kajetanowicz (rally), and Tymek Kucharczyk (INDY NXT).
• Each ambassador leads a team via the FIA Smart Driving Challenge app, providing performance stats, guidance, and exclusive content through the app and social media.
• The technology behind it: Greater Than's AI measures driving behavior via smartphone Bluetooth connection, giving real-time safety and sustainability scores.
• Last season's results: 9% average reduction in battery usage or CO2 emissions, with the winner achieving nearly 30%. Participants also showed 37.5% lower risk level compared to average drivers.

What's next:

The 2026 challenge runs through December, featuring seven heats. The top 20 drivers advance to playoffs, and two finalists will compete in a live head-to-head finale for the title of World's Smartest Driver.